Sorry for my little break. You know how real life can interfere with the blogging sometimes. In any case, I want to catch up on some happenings in Afghanistan for you. The coalition forces are still fighting the good fight, helping protect the fragile Afghanistan government from the thugs and terrorists trying to take it down. Back in late February, on the 25th to be exact, Afghan and international patrols found three weapons caches in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.
One cache, found in the Reg-e Khan Neshin district, contained eight rifle rounds, eight assault rifles, ammunition and an ammunition-filled vest. Two caches were found in the Nad-e Ali district, containing seven illumination rounds, six high-explosive rounds, 80 pounds of ammonium nitrate, 51 pounds of homemade explosives, 100 pounds of shrapnel, and four large home-made bombs. One bomb contained 75 pounds of homemade explosives, the second contained five mortar rounds, and two others contained 10 mortar rounds each.
In other Afghanistan operations, Feb. 25:
– A combined force found several caches of weapons and drugs in Daykundi province. The caches contained 1,100 pounds of ammonium nitrate, more than 100 pounds of opium, 2 pounds of pure heroin, a small bag of opium seeds, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, a shotgun, two assault rifles, a bolt-action rifle and a substantial amount of ammunition. The security force arrested one suspected insurgent in the operation.
– In Helmand province, a patrol found a substantial amount of ammonium nitrate in a compound. The patrol was involved in clearing the city in support of Operation Moshtarak when they found 5,500 pounds of the material along with bomb-making components.
As you can see, drugs, guns, and money are still a problem in Afghanistan, but every month that goes by the US military and the coalition of the willing are doing their part to make Afghanistan (and the entire region) more stable.
Sgt. Stryker out.
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New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team Destroys Weapons Cache in Bamyan
An insurgent weapons cache found in Bamyan province, Afghanistan, Feb. 28, contained 26 rocket-propelled-grenade expelling carts, 25 RPG-7 rockets, 200 12.7 mm rounds, 400 9 mm rounds, and 1,400 7.62 mm short rounds, all of which were destroyed by International Security Assistance Forces. Those who reported the weapons to ISAF may receive a reward for their help in turning in the weaponry. (Photo courtesy New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team)
